Eckert delighted with "very important" clean sheet
Tonda Eckert felt Southampton’s controlled performance at Stoke was symbolic of his side’s recent improvement.
A 2-0 victory in the Potteries means Saints have followed up their seven-match winless league run by taking seven points from three games, with only one goal conceded in that time.
Eckert, who turned 33 today, was pleased with the way his team quelled Stoke’s set-piece threat, as well as scoring one of their own, as Flynn Downes added to Finn Azaz’s first-half strike by profiting from a second-half corner.
“It’s not too bad – birthday, a clean sheet and three points,” Eckert smiled.
“It’s very important. We have been working so long for clean sheets – we all know how important that is if we want to go somewhere this season.
“I think we are making huge steps at the moment in the right direction, and today I’m very happy that we managed to control dead-ball situations on both sides, and that makes the difference in this league at times.
“Over the last weeks the things that we struggle with are quite clear. We’ve been working a lot this week on defensive and offensive set-pieces, I think the staff have done an excellent job and the players as well. It pays off on a day like today.”
Eckert paid tribute to the 2,168 Saints fans who made the long journey for a 12.30pm GMT kick-off, but kept his cards close to his chest when asked about the transfer window, which closes on Monday evening.
“Unbelievable,” he said of the travelling support. “It just continues from last week. Obviously we wish we could’ve given them three points in the last game as well. These away games are never easy, but they become so much easier with this support.
“It’s always quite busy towards the end of the transfer window. We will see where we’re at next week.”
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